Events 2010

Subject: Multimodal Communication and Learning colloquium

Date: 1 November 2010

This colloquium will focus on multimodal approaches to communication, focusing on the ways in which modes and media interact to make meaning within specific contexts (for instance, gaming and use of digital video in the classroom, or supporting school curricula through m-learning). It will also address informal learning which centres around the everyday availability of digital and mobile communication in South African contexts, such as learning about social networking and relationships via mobile phones or platforms such as MXit or Facebook, understanding contemporary society through digital games and other media. Multimodal approaches to education will also be explored, including multimodal pedagogies and assessment of multimodal texts. Some of the areas of interest here include professional communication in higher education, museums as pedagogic spaces, textbook design, the multimodal aspects of academic discourse, designing patient information leaflets in pharmacology, designing social network interfaces and curricula for use in schools, discourse strategies for mobile tutoring, and the development of new interfaces for low-cost sharing of mobile media. The aim is to open up theoretical, methodological and pedagogical debate in a relaxed forum. Presentations of papers, workshops or discussions are welcome.

The presentation concerns the research design and methodology of a PhD research study in the field of multimodality, grounded in the multimodal social semiotic theory of Gunther Kress and his associates, and entitled ‘Transmodal semiosis in classrooms: case studies from South Africa’. The presentation traces the criss-crossing journey through aims, data, theoretical framework and analytic method, providing a personal and reflective account of key issues and struggles. It aims to assist and encourage postgraduate candidates in their own research in the field.

Conference: International Conference on Multimodality and Learning at the Institute of Education

Date: 6-7 July

Place: University of London

Arlene Archer, Franci Cronje, Medee Rall and Terri Grant, attends the International Conference on Multimodality and Learning at the Institute of Education (6 – 7 July 2010). They attend a half day methodology workshop with Carey Jewitt before the conference. Topics covered included: analysing critical pedagogy in video production; a framework for both process and product in scenario-based pedagogy; a methodology for exploring multimodal academic discourse; power and representation in a san rock art museum display. They also attend a full day Masterclass on Multimodal Methodologies before the conference.

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Subject: A Methodology for Analysing Both Product and Process

Date: 2 June 2010

Place: Writing Centre, 2-4pm

Presenter: Terri Grant

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Subject: Multimodal Academic Voice

Date: 11 May 2010

Place: Writing Centre, 2-4pm

Presenter: Arlene Archer

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Subject: A Social Semiotic Famework for Analysing a Rock Art Museum Display II

Date: 20 April 2010

Place: Writing Centre, 2-4pm

Presenter: Medee Rall

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Subject: Hybrid Border Spaces

Date: 6 April 2010

Place: Writing Centre, 2-4pm

Presenter: Franci Cronje

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Subject: A Social Semiotic Framework for Analyzing a Rock Art Museum Display I